Facebook Built A Basketball Game Directly Into Messenger – Here’s How To Play

#1 First, update your Messenger app. Then all you need is someone in a chat or group conversation to send the basketball emoji.

#2 Tap it, and you'll enter game play. You'll get cheered on when you score ...

#3 ... and have to start over when you don't.

#4 Each player's score will be shown in the chat, and Facebook keeps track of who the current high-scorer is.

#5 If you manage to hit 10 consecutive baskets, the game gets a little harder ...

#6

Messenger will likely be one of the hottest topics at Facebook's developers' conference in April. Since announcing the Messenger platform last year, the company has built in native ways to send GIFs, talk to brands, and order an Uber. Maybe even more games like this will be up next ...

#7

While it may not be the ‘best' game in the world, it's worth knowing about, especially if you happen to be out and about with no game installed on your smartphone or tablet, but instead, have Messenger onboard.

The hidden basketball game isn't the only entertaining title Messenger packs. You'll be pleased to learn that you can also play chess on Facebook's IM platform as well, and you can learn more about accessing it by going here.

We sorta wish the game wasn't hidden away from plain view like that and was instead available to play at a moment's notice. But still, we're sure Facebook has its reasons to keep things that way, and we absolutely can't complain any further, given the fact that Messenger is a pure messaging platform, nothing more, nothing less.

Be sure to let us know in the comments section below what you think about this neat basketball game inside Messenger. And also, do share your high score with us as well.

Don't worry, we won't judge anyone.